Match-safe.



L. HILDRETH:

MATCH SAFE.

APPLICATION rum) r3345, 1910.

Patented May 17, 1910.

- scares.

MATCH-SAFE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 17, jl fltl.

Application filed February 15, 1910. Serial No. 543,917.

match safes.

One object of the invention is to provide a match safe or holder adapted to contain a quantity of matches, and having means whereby but one match at a time may be con veniently removed.

Another object is to provide a match safe or holder of this character into which the entire contents of a box of matches may be readily deposited at one time or in one operation.

W'Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims,

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a match safe c011- structed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the inner box or casing elevated as when held up by the matches contained therein; Fig. 4: is a detail perspective View of the inner box or casing removed from the outer box and showing the cover in open position.

In the embodiment of the invention I provide an outer box or casing 1 which may be formed of any suitable material and of any desired size, the same preferably having its inside dimensions corresponding substantially to the size of the ordinary large boxes in which matches are sold. The box or casing 1 is open on its upper and lower sides and slidably mounted in said outer box is an inner box or casing 2 of such size as to have a close sliding engagement with the inner walls of the outer box. The inner box or casing 2 is open at its lower side and is provided in its opposite ends with pairs of vertical slots 3, through which project longitudinally disposed bottom supporting rods or bars 4, the ends of which are secured in the opposite ends of the outer box 1.

On the rods 4 and arranged in the inner box or casing 2 is a stationary bottom 5, said bottom being rigidly secured to the rods 4 by clips 6 or other suitable fastening devices secured to the under side of the bottom, as shown. The rods l are preferably disposed near the upper side of the outer box or casing 1, so that the bottom 5 will be supported near the top of the inner box 2, when the latter is in its lowermost position in the outer box.

Hingedly connected in any suitable manner to the rear upper edge of the inner box 2 is a cover 7 in the form of an open rectangular frame on the side bars of which are formed a series of inwardly projecting fingers 8, the inner ends of which terminate a short distance on the opposite sides of the center of the frame, thus providing an open space through the center, as shown. The fingers 8 are spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit the passage of one match between any two of the fingers. By this arrangement of the fingers, only one match at a time may be conveniently removed from the box. The cover 7 may be locked in closed position or fastened by means of a spring catch 9, as shown in the drawings.

By hingedly connecting the cover 7, the same may be swung open and the entire contents of a box of matches may be deposited in the inner box or casing, either by inverting the pasteboard box containing the matches directly into the upper open end of the inner box after removing the cover from the pasteboard box or by inverting the match safe over the pasteboard match box and then turning the match safe back to an upright position, which will invert the pasteboard match box which may then be removed from the match safe, leaving the matches therein. By this means, the filling of the matchsafe may be quickly and easily accomplished without spilling any of the matches. When the matches have thus been placed in the safe, the inner box or casing will be held up by the matches to a sufficient extent to provide space therefor and, as the matches are removed, the inner box or casing will gradually lower in the outer box so that the open cover 7 will always remain close to the matches, thus enabling them to be readily reched and removed one at a time from the sa e.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a match safe of the class described, an outer box or casing, a stationary bottom in said b'ox, an inner box having an open end mounted to slide in said outer box over said stationary bottom and thereby forming an automatically adjustable match compartment whereby the matches are held at the proper level in said inner box.

2. In a match safe of the character described, an outer box or casing having ar ranged therein adjacent to its upper side a stationary bottom, an inner box or casing arranged in said outer box and having a vertical sliding engagement therewith and with said bottom, means to guide and limit the outward movement of said inner box or cars ing, a cover arranged on said inner box, said cover comprising an open frame having a series of fingers projecting inwardly from the opposite sides of the frame toward the center thereof and forming a space through said center, said fingers being spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit one match at a time to be removed between the same from said inner box.

3. In a match safe of the character described, an outer box or casing, combined guiding and bottom supporting rods arranged through said outer box, a stationary bottom secured to said rods, an inner box or casing arranged in said outer box, said inner box having in its opposite ends vertically disposed guide slots engaged with said guiding and bottom supporting rods, said inner box thus having a sliding engagement with the outer box and with said stationary bottom, a cover hingedly connected to the upper side of said inner box, said cover compris ing an open frame having on its side bars a series of inwardly projecting fingers terminating at their inner ends to form a longi tudinal space through the cover, said fingers being spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit the removal of one match at a time between the same, and means to fasten said cover in closed position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesscs. V

LAlVREN-GE HILDRETH. Witnesses JOHN LAWWILL, \V. E. FISHBACK. 

